We’re coming to the end of the year, meaning it is time to look back on the year that was. This week I’ll be offering my 10 best in different categories. Stay tuned each day as I count down a new category leading up to New Year’s Eve. And join Eric and I on Saturday, December 30 as we share our Top 12 movies of the year on the This Week at the Movies podcast.

No. 10: 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed
About: I enjoy the comedy and storytelling style of W. Kamau Bell. In this documentary that was released on HBO and Max, he looks at mixed race kids growing up in America. The style of the storytelling and the subject stuck with me throughout the year, the mark of a well-crafted documentary story.

No. 9: Unconditional
About: A limited release film from journalist Richard Liu, I was fortunate to see a screener of the film. It tracks three families, each of whom are dealing with a member that has mental health issues. The film is about mental health, its challenges, and the system in the United States. It was a powerful and emotional journey.

No. 8: Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
About: This documentary was initially released at Sundance, and later came to streaming. It looks at the career of Shields and looks at her current life as a wife and mother. I thought it was an interesting examination of her Hollywood experience that gave me a greater appreciation for her work.

No. 7: Common Ground
About: Another limited release documentary, this one came out near the end of the year. Its focus is on farming, the use of the land and how we can keep things sustainable for future generations. Good documentaries educate and ask tough questions about how you see the world, and this film certainly did that.

No. 6: Every Body
About: This film looks at three people born intersex, meaning with parts from two genders. It’s an interesting examination of their lives and how early decisions made about how to raise them have lasting impacts. The subjects were brutally honest, and it ended up being a powerful and informative journey.

No. 5: Albert Brooks: Defending My Life
About: This documentary from Max takes a look at the life and career of Brooks, a talented comedian and filmmaker. I didn’t know that much about Brooks’ career before the film, and I was taken with this exploration and his discussion of his work. It was a fascinating and compelling journey I enjoyed more than I expected.

No. 4: Sly
About: This Netflix documentary is a deep dive on the life and career of Sylvester Stallone. The stories of how he worked and got his famous films made was interesting and compelling. In many ways he’s an under-rated performer and I enjoyed this exploration of his life and career.

No. 3: 20 Days in Mariupol
About: This film from Msytslav Chernov is a boots on the ground look at the war in the Ukraine. Chernov is trapped in Mariupol for 20 days as Russian forces attack and invade the city. The images and stories captured here are powerful and haunting.

No. 2: Shot in the Arm
About: From director Scott Hamilton Kennedy, this stirring documentary looks at the war over information and opinions regarding vaccination. It begins looking at the measles crisis in 2019, running throughout the COVID pandemic to the current day. It’s a powerful look at both sides of the divide and the arguments, rhetoric and misinformation used to tell their stories. This is a must-see documentary.

No. 1: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie
About: This was my favorite documentary of the year. It debuted at Sundance and went wide on Apple TV+ in May. It’s an up close and personal look at Fox, chronicling his career and his decades-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. It’s a powerful and engaging story told beautifully by director Davis Guggenheim. It was one of my favorite films this year and is well worth your time to check out.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.